The expansion involves marine infrastructure development, dredging, and the construction of a new quay wall to enhance the port’s capacity. These upgrades will support an industrial area within the Duqm Special Economic Zone, utilizing solar and wind energy from the surrounding desert to produce green hydrogen fuel. This renewable energy will power the production of low-carbon iron briquettes and base metal products, contributing to sustainable industrial growth.
A delegation led by Dr. Firas Al Abduwani from Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals recently visited Rotterdam and Brussels to promote the use of Oman’s renewable energy for low-carbon iron production in Duqm. “This initiative will support labor-intensive, low-energy manufacturing in Europe for finished iron and steel products,” he stated. Future phases of the project aim to produce green steel directly in Duqm, further advancing sustainable manufacturing.
Oman’s state-backed Hydrom has already awarded contracts worth $30 billion to five consortia, including Shell, BP, and companies from Belgium, Korea, Singapore, OQ, and private Omani firms. These projects, generating 18 gigawatts of solar and wind power, are focused on producing green hydrogen fuel, with most of the output already allocated or sold in advance.
The project is managed by Investcorp Aberdeen’s Bahrain office, led by Mohammed Al Ardhi, a former commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman. The fund has previously supported four major infrastructure projects in the Gulf and is actively seeking additional large-scale opportunities within the region.
